Devotional 23/9/16 – John 15:24 Miracles cannot save

Jesus performed many great miracles and yet some people still rejected Him and had Him murdered. Let’s press on to miracles, but it’s only the miraculous regenerating work of the Spirit in the heart, in response to the gospel message, that can save. 

To meditate/pray upon

John 15:24 “If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father.”

John14:12-14. "Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."   

Jesus performed multiple miraculous signs that attested to His truthfulness, but the populace rejected Him. There are seven ‘signs’ that are highlighted in John’s gospel, each of these acting as a ‘sign post’ to who Jesus is:

• Jesus turns water into wine 2:1-11
• Jesus heals the official’s son 4:46-54
• Healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda 5:1-18
• Feeding of the five-thousand 6:5-13
• Jesus walks of the water 6:16-21
• Healing of the man born blind 9:1-7
• Raising of Lazarus 11:1-44

I will also add the ‘sign’ of the cross and resurrection which is the greatest work of Christ.

The church is to be abundant in ‘works’ that point to the reality of Jesus – miracles, changed lives, sacrificial love… should all evidence the present reality of Jesus.

Never the less, no matter how proficient we become in doing the works of Christ, some people will still fail to believe while others will respond.

Pray that we would increase in being such a church as you increase in being such a member!

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